Alberta Gov. Scientist Apologizes For Distorting Scientists' Tar Sands Findings, Personal Smears

[hatrack]

EDMONTON — Legal pressure has forced a senior Alberta government scientist to retract highly public statements saying two prominent oilsands critics lied and fudged their data. In a letter to the scientists he questioned, Preston McEachern -- head of oilsands research for Alberta Environment -- now says he was the one who lied.

"The statements in my presentation that you did these things were false and I regret very much that I made these statements," he said in a letter to Peter Lee of Global Forest Watch and independent biologist Kevin Timoney. "We are just simply trying to do our jobs and ask questions based on the data," Timoney said Monday. "To be defamed like this is deeply troubling. I just wonder why the government seems so reluctant to discuss the actual science rather that just do these attacks on people."

In a paper published last fall, Timoney and Lee attempted to summarize evidence that oilsands projects pollute the environment. The paper, published in the Open Conservation Biology Journal, reached four conclusions:

* There are enough contaminants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, mercury and arsenic present in the Athabasca River to be a concern.
* contaminants are increasingly concentrated downstream of oilsands facilities.
* The contaminants have become more concentrated over time.
* There are documented incidents of pollutants from the facilities entering the river.

The report concluded that it may be too late to determine exactly how much of the contaminants come from industry and how much are natural. It suggested more research is necessary as the industry expands. In March, McEachern made a formal presentation at the University of Alberta in which he accused Lee and Timoney of lying and using data selectively. "I was in the audience when he said that," said Lee. "I was gobsmacked." McEachern had not attempted to contact either scientist with his concerns before making the statements, Timoney said. Nor has he since.

EDIT

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20100621/oilsands-scientist-100621/

[Nihil]

1. Yet the mark of the smear will remain for ages ...

... as the "apology" will never get as much coverage as the original lie.

:-(